Born as a male but feel like a female OR born as a female but feel like a male. Some persons are unable to feel comfortable in the physical gender that they are born in; their mind, brain, feeling and thoughts are all of the opposite sex. This uncomfortableness in their mind about their physical gender is termed as Gender Identity Disorder.

What's the cause?

We do not know the exact cause of this disorder, but it is hypothesized that developmental changes in the brain and the body do not sync, and the brain/mind is left with a different gender than the body. This is mostly an unidentifiable and unpredictable change.

What are the symptoms?

Children might express a desire to dress up as the opposite sex.

They might express replusion at one's own sex organs/genitals.

As adolescence begins, they do not develop feelings of attraction towards members of the opposite sex. Some complain of revulsion about their pubertal changes.

Males want to pee while sitting down, while females want to do it standing up.

Their behavior is often more like that of the opposite sex, e.g. boys might display feminine gestures, while girls might indulge in risk taking and reckless behavior.

As they become adult, a realisation that they are stuck in a body that they do not like causes depression and anxiety.

Diagnosis: A diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is made based on a detailed assessment by a Psychiatrist, who is specially trained in this assessment. WPATH standards mandate that this is an ongoing assessment, and involves facilitating the process of Hormonal Treatment and eventual Sex Reassignment Surgery. The whole process can take 2-3 years.

Treatment: For those who have severe GID, eventual sex reassignment surgery is the treatment and outcome. However, support of family, friends and a Good Psychiatrist can enable a smooth transition. Psychiatrists will often use antidepressants and anxiolytics to make it easier for the person to cope with societal and family pressures.

Alcohol addiction commonly known as alcoholism is a fairly common problem that has shown to affect people from every walk of life. Scientists have tried to pinpoint the absolute cause behind alcoholism, but to no success. Certain factors like sex, genetic, and socioeconomic factors have shown to have some effect on alcoholism. The cause of alcoholism is never singular. Alcohol addiction is indeed a disease, where a person may not have full control over his actions and is seen to change the neurochemistry of the brain.

The symptoms of alcohol addiction can be seen in many ways and the severity of the situation varies from person to person. Other factors such as the frequency of consumption may also be specific. While some people are heavy drinkers and drink throughout the day; others may drink occasionally and remain sober for a few days.

A person who is dependent on alcohol will prioritise drinking over other essential activities and will eventually cause disruption in his social life, work or other areas of his life. It can also create a negative effect in the victim’s life along with their families and their near and dear ones.

What are the signs of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse?
The signs and symptoms of alcoholism or addiction are rather conspicuous. Since drinking alcohol is common in social events in most cultures around the world, it becomes difficult to recognise when someone is addicted to alcohol, unlike drugs like cocaine and heroin.

The physical signs of alcohol abuse include:

Loss of control over the quantity of alcohol consumed.

Lack of adequate sleep, followed by overcompensation for sleep.

Expression of anger and other negative behaviours my increase in inappropriate places and situations.

Lack of proper attention towards the priorities in life.

How does alcohol affect the body?
Chronic abuse of alcohol can have negative effects on almost every part of your body and plays havoc in your system. Alcohol is liable to cause irreversible damage to several organs of the body which is vital for sustenance:

Your mood swings are definitely of concern and that must be investigated. It may be caused by a serious developmental issue called Rejection. You seem to suffer from rejection from all and sundry to find it difficult to feel one with people. The solution to this is a matter of genuine self-acceptance or self-love. I am not talking about narcissism: this is a genuine love of yourself. It is not based on your appearance alone. You must work on developing yourself in five areas: the physical fitness, emotional fitness, intellectual fitness, social fitness and spiritual fitness. I would also suggest you attend a good personality development program, a speech training course (I suggest the Toastmasters Club), a conversation and elocution course, and to do a personal grooming course too. Education is very good to boost self-confidence, and together with that if you develop socialization skills, you will make it big. Meet with a counselor and ask to be trained in handling emotions, and that will just take you places. Read a lot and meet lots of people, even if you feel too conscious: in time you will get out of this backwardness very well. Do physical fitness exercises regularly. Ultimately, if you believe in God, you will know that you are so precious to Him that no one else’s opinion or acceptance is as important as His. Your life will change phenomenally! If the mood disorder is serious you can meet a doctor and determine the course of action, medically and therapeutically.

World Alzheimer’s Day is celebrated on the 21st of September each year. A number of organizations, from all over the world concentrate on raising the awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a very common type of dementia. It falls under the group of disorders in which mental functioning gets impaired.

Life for an Alzheimer’s patients is quite difficult, but by following the following tips, you can support yourself and will also help you to cope with it.

You have to accept the changes and accept that life will continue getting difficult. Instead of trying to cover your difficulties for protection from embarrassment, you should face the fact. You also have to accept the changes in your physical abilities and adapt to skills, which are beneficial.

You should develop some ideal coping strategies. Try to be occupied and involved and respond to the challenges you face in everyday life. By practicing the coping skills you will be able to gain a sense of control in your life.

Try to identify stuff. Make a list of all the tasks which seem challenging to you and try to develop coping strategies for these tasks. Prioritize your tasks and determine whether it is really necessary to overcome certain tasks. You should also strategize solutions and come up with solutions which would suit you best.

You should set realistic goals and expectations for yourself and use the coping skills to deal with difficult tasks. In case of very challenging tasks, do not hesitate to take help.

A daily routine or plan is required for keeping a track of several tasks. A schedule reduces the amount of time you spend to figure out something, simplifying your task and also prevents mistakes.

Always approach one task at a time and take enough time to complete tasks. Do not give up on challenging tasks and take breaks to figure things out.

Always remember that you have more than a single chance to solve problems. If one chance fails, you should adopt new strategies and try again and again with better assessment.

You should identify the triggers which cause anxiety and stress. Knowing the causes will allow you to plan in advance so that you can prevent them.

Keep in mind that your family, friends, pets, will power and prayers are sources of great strength and will help you get past any obstacle.

You should accept help from others and do not hesitate or think about being dependent on others.

You should take the advice from your psychiatrist or from Alzheimer Association National Early-Stage Advisors in order to understand the challenges such as medications, management of schedules and dealing with emotional or relationship changes.

Using a "to-do" list of tasks that a person needs to complete can give a person a sense of control and accomplishment

Effective stress management involves learning to set limits and to say "No" to some demands that others make.

Manage and Reduce your Stress

If you are one of the many people who want to alleviate your stress, you can learn some simple techniques to help you get out of the vicious cycle of leading a stressful life. Your stressful life does not just affect you, but everyone around you. It affects your relationships as well as any children or co-workers. Most of all, it can actually make you physically ill.

There are many facets to stress. Stress manifests itself in many different ways and can be either self-induced or something that occurs in life. We can never eliminate stress from our lives as stressful situations are part of life. However, we can learn to react to stress in a positive manner and take control of the situation rather than allowing the stress to remain in control. This book will teach you different tips as well as old secrets on how to identify the stressors in your life as well as learn to manage them. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Psychiatrist.

We all know it as a debilitating mental illness that plagues people across the globe. Schizophrenic patients often feel like they are being overtaken by situations and events that are beyond their control. They may complain of seeing people who are not there or hearing voices where there are none. This happens because the neurotransmitters in the brain of the patient do not function appropriately. There are various types, causes and symptoms of this disease. Read up to know more.

Symptoms: Psychotic symptoms like delusion are common in patients suffering from this disease. Also, the patient may be severely blunt in the emotional sense, and may bear a lost look and wear a feeling of loss or absence at all times. The thought process or cognition of the patient may also suffer in such cases. Poor concentration and lack of coordination are some symptoms of this kind of suffering. Hallucinations and distorted thought processes also characterise the patient to a great extent. The patient may also display certain typical symptoms like social withdrawal, extreme apathy, and lack of motivation. The patient will also be in an emotionally numb state once the delusions have lessened.

Causes: So what causes Schizophrenia, really? While no tests or conclusive examinations exist to pin point the exact diagnosis or cause of the disease, there are many factors that can contribute to the development and progression of the same. Hereditary factors play up in many cases while chemical imbalances in the brain also lead to this condition. The serotonin levels and the functioning of the neurotransmitters are the most significant causes of this disease, in such cases. Excessive abuse of drugs like LSD and cannabis can also contribute to this condition, while family relations and a dysfunctional environment can also lead to this disease.

Types: There are many different kinds of Schizophrenia. One of them is

Paranoid Schizophrenia, which makes the patient highly suspicious

Disorganised Schizophrenia can lead to incoherence in speech and thought

Catatonic Schizophrenia can cause social withdrawal

Residual Schizophrenia can lead to a complete lack of motivation

Schizoaffective Disorder can lead to major mood swings.

The various kinds of Schizophrenia are characterised by varying degrees of mood swings, depression, paranoia and delusional thinking. The progression of the disease can be checked with the help of cognitive behavioural therapy which can help in reprogramming the brain of the patient to a great degree. Rehabilitation programs, as well as case management, can help in the long run. But the key here is to recognise the symptoms early on and get the treatment or counselling started to reduce the symptoms and their spread. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Psychiatrist.

Homoeopathy has a positive role in treating symptoms of depression. Start with homoeopathic medicine --
Ignatia 200 pills and
Calc carb 200 pills
take 4 pills each medicine x 3 times daily x 30 Days.
Take these medicines for relief.

Panic attacks are intensely stressful. They're the types of events that can be so draining that those that experience them may end up with temporary or long term depression as a result. So you should manage you panic attacks by-
1. Control Your Breathing- Start by learning how to control your breathing when you're hyperventilating. The key to controlling your breathing is slow deliberate breaths and fighting the urge to breathe too fast or too full.
2. Start Talking About It- You need to get out of your own thoughts as much as possible. So be okay talking to those around you about it, or calling someone you trust and letting them know how you're feeling. You can talk to your family, friends about what you feel
3. Exercise or meditation- exercise is also a powerful anxiety reduction tool, one that mimics the mental health benefits of several anxiety medications. Talk to your doctor about exercising more or do some meditation or yoga, because it is an important addition to any anxiety reduction plan.
4. Healthy Lifestyles- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also a crucial part of overcoming your anxiety. Diet plays a big role, and you need to make sure you're getting enough vitamins since vitamin deficiencies can cause some discomforts that may trigger panic attacks. But sleep is perhaps most important. Sleep debt causes a host of problems that tend to trigger panic attacks, like headaches, weak muscles, and trouble focusing. Healthy living really is an important part of overcoming panic. Try the things you like to do.
Follow the above things. This will help you a lot. For more queries contact us.

Walking and biking are both excellent forms of cardiovascular exercise which, when performed regularly, can ward off disease, shed pounds, improve mental outlook. Each have their merits and drawbacks, and which is the best choice for you largely depends upon what you'll enjoy doing most, the health of your joints and how much weight you'd like to lose.
The Pros of Walking- walking is quickly becoming one of the country's most popular fitness activities. It is easily performed nearly anywhere, requires little equipment and doesn't pound the joints as hard as running. The Cons of Walking- Ironically, one of walking's pros is also one of its cons: it's easy. An average 155-pound adult walking briskly only burns about 267 calories per hour -- and that may not be enough to maintain a low weight, depending on caloric intake. But most importantly, a person with joint problems in the ankles or knees may find walking quickly or over long distances too difficult to do over a prolonged period of time.
The Pros of Biking- Like walking, biking is low-impact and easy. It's also fun, and burns a lot of calories -- significantly more than brisk walking. Biking builds leg (muscular) strength
The Cons of Biking- Although biking is fun and provides numerous health benefits, there are also cons. First, bikes are expensive, and they require upkeep. Second, people who have knee problems may find biking difficult. To get the best exercise benefits, bikers must try to avoid long downhill stretches and straightaways, because these conditions don't keep the heart rate high. Finally, bikers must watch for road hazards, traffic and weather conditions, all of which can turn a nice ride into a nasty nightmare.
I hope the above answer has helped you. For more queries contact us.

Borderline Personality Disorder is purely a personality disorder caused due to multiple factors. An individual suffering from BPD maintains unstable relationships with other people, shows inappropriate emotional reactions and possesses suicidal or self-harm tendencies. Individuals suffering from BPD may find it difficult to stay alone. They fear abandonment and loneliness. Yet they have a tendency of showing mood swings, sudden emotional outburst or anger and hostility. This prevents them from having a long lasting relationship in life.

It usually starts affecting the individual's life from early adulthood. It, however, seems to improve with age. The individuals also have distorted self-image. He or she is unclear about what they want from life or what they are in reality. Even minor incidents can trigger intense reactions in people with BPD.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder:

The signs of suffering from BPD are listed below:

Intense and frantic effort to avoid abandonment or loneliness

Unstable relationships with people and changing the attitude towards them drastically. It can change from being in immense love with each other to intense hatred.

Developing paranoid thoughts and having dissociative feelings-The individual often lacks the feeling of self and suffers from identity crisis.

Suicidal feelings and attempts

Tendency to cause self harm or destruction by drug abuse, driving irresponsibly or be having unprotected sex

Causes for Borderline Personality Disorder: Borderline Personality Disorder can be caused due to multiple reasons. Usually it has been found by researchers that it occurs to individuals who have had a disturbed childhood. Complex and unpleasant happenings in the childhood may leave a deep impact on the individual's personality, which comes back as a disorder in his or her early adulthood. From mental, physical to sexual abuse in the childhood can lead to this condition in adults.

Besides, researchers have discovered recently that this illness has hereditary links. Some genes may be responsible for BPD. Improper functioning of the brain is also another factor. Especially, the portion of brain that controls emotions might not be functioning properly in co-ordination with other parts of it.

Treatment: The treatment of BPD involves three steps- psychotherapy, medications and support from peer and family. Dialectical Behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are used in treating the individual. There are no specific medicines to cure identity crisis, boredom and loneliness. However, other symptoms like mood swings, depression and anxiety can be treated with anti-depressants and mood stabilizers. Antipsychotic drugs are also helpful to a certain extent. In extreme cases, hospitalization may be needed. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Psychiatrist.

How did this happen. Any major life-changing event or problem occured with you.
Take homoeopathic medicine
Baryta carb 1M powder single dose.
Before sleep.
Keep powder on tongue and swallow.
From morning, begin with --
Brahmi Q
Mother tincture - 30 ml quantity to start with.
10 drops in half cup water. Stir this solution and drink.
Repeat this procedure and drink 3 times each day before meals.
Come after 30 days.
Goodluck.

Relax dear Lybrate user. I can understand the intensity of pain caused by losing a loved one. In your case I think it is the ego clash between you and your boyfriend is playing a vital role. I mean you are not willing to breakup the relationship with him unconsciously but due some superficial and tiny matters you have agreed to lose his relationship consciously. This state of mind may lead you to depression. My suggestion is "BE IN THE MIDDLE" I mean maintain a healthy relationship with him, not so deep and not so far. Never give up a relationship all of a sudden. Keep in touch with him until you get a new one. Who knows the same person may be having the same state of mind as you are in.

I am so glad that you are reaching out so soon. You are all of seventeen years and you have fallen in love and obviously parents will not approve and because of that you want to end your life. If you are like this no one will want to marry you! You have to give yourself several more years before being sure of your partner. You will be surprised how much you both will change and that someone more suitable may be waiting for you. You are indeed fragile. You are very young and have a full life ahead of you. You have turned a lot of anger towards yourself. You must identify that anger, its origins, and why you feel you need to turn it against yourself. Life is precious and beautiful depending on how you want to see it, and what circumstances you allow to disturb it. Sometimes when we are not able to get what we want, we need to adjust our wants to cope with the situation. People who cannot make these changes to suit the situation end up becoming maladjusted persons and can suffer more problems in life. It is our resilience that is a sign of good mental health. Surely you do not come into that category! Please talk to a counselor, either with your parents or without them too, and discuss your problems at length. That person may want you to meet with a psychiatrist, if it is really serious. Even so, do not give up on the counseling and cooperate with both the therapies, sincerely. At your age you will need to see a lot more of life and realize that you are not mature enough to take your life for want of proper understanding of your circumstances. A counselor will do the needful to explain these intricacies of life. Nothing is worth taking your life for. Your anger is making you have these thoughts and if it is not dealt with soon, you could end up depressed or you may already be depressed. Don’t be so rigid. Negotiate everything. There is always a way, if you are flexible. You must learn to love yourself and your life.